Friday
Sep172010
Quick - Send in the 'B' Team
SteveLast week there was a fantastic story in the world of sports, and one that most people, even the most ardent sports fans in the US probably missed.
USA defeats Turkey to capture World Basketball Championship.
KD
I am not talking about the HR Capitalist, I know he was on top of the story.
Take a look at some of the not-so-thinly veiled references to this collection of American players as the ‘second team’, ‘junior varsity’, or ‘guys who know their roles’.
Sure, this team lacked the star power and ability from more widely known performers like LeBron (who could not be bothered to take his talent to Turkey), Dwayne Wade, and Kobe Bryant. For the record, the recovering from injury Bryant gets a pass from me as he carried that Laker team to the NBA title this past spring.
Heading in to the World Championship tournament there was a palpable air of concern from USA Basketball officials and fans that this ‘B’ Team would not be able to win the tournament, to re-confirm (at least temporarily), US dominance of international basketball, and perhaps most importantly, to secure the automatic qualification to the next Olympic competition in 2012. One of the classic dilemmas the US has faced in International tournaments is the reluctance of many star NBA players to commit to the national team, that normally has to play in qualifying and World Championship tournaments in the summer, the ‘vacation’ season for the NBA. Guys like Kobe have dragged themselves through 100 games or more from October - June, asking them to commit to two weeks playing in a rickety gym in Serbia in August is not that easy a sell.
For this, and other reasons (primarily the LeBron free agent circus), the USA built a new team for the World Championships, consisting primarily of younger and emerging NBA stars, with a few more experienced, veteran players sprinkled in to the mix. But clearly, this team was perceived as not the USA’s ‘best’ team, just the best one that the country could manage. While chock-full of talented players (and admittedly one ‘A’ player, the remarkable Kevin Durant), this group was certainly not assured a gold medal, the days of the US just trotting out any 5 NBA players and expecting to win on the International stage are long passed. Plus, this tournament was to be played in Turkey, giving the hard-working, chain-smoking, flopping Turks a significant home court advantage.
This team then, had several built-in excuses should they have failed to win. They were after all, the ‘B’ team. They were mostly young, and had little experience in major international competition. No one was really paying attention back in the US. The finals of the World Championship took place the first Sunday of the new NFL season. But with the inspiring play of Durant, the Lakers Lamar Odom, and contributions from many of the younger players, the US team won the tournament in impressive fashion. Based on this performance, Durant certainly, and some of the others potentially will crack the ‘A’ team roster for the 2012 Olympics.
What does this all mean to the rest of us, and the real world of work?
Maybe nothing.
But it could be a reminder that developing depth of talent sometimes requires sending in the ‘B’ team.
KDI am not talking about the HR Capitalist, I know he was on top of the story.
Take a look at some of the not-so-thinly veiled references to this collection of American players as the ‘second team’, ‘junior varsity’, or ‘guys who know their roles’.
Sure, this team lacked the star power and ability from more widely known performers like LeBron (who could not be bothered to take his talent to Turkey), Dwayne Wade, and Kobe Bryant. For the record, the recovering from injury Bryant gets a pass from me as he carried that Laker team to the NBA title this past spring.
Heading in to the World Championship tournament there was a palpable air of concern from USA Basketball officials and fans that this ‘B’ Team would not be able to win the tournament, to re-confirm (at least temporarily), US dominance of international basketball, and perhaps most importantly, to secure the automatic qualification to the next Olympic competition in 2012. One of the classic dilemmas the US has faced in International tournaments is the reluctance of many star NBA players to commit to the national team, that normally has to play in qualifying and World Championship tournaments in the summer, the ‘vacation’ season for the NBA. Guys like Kobe have dragged themselves through 100 games or more from October - June, asking them to commit to two weeks playing in a rickety gym in Serbia in August is not that easy a sell.
For this, and other reasons (primarily the LeBron free agent circus), the USA built a new team for the World Championships, consisting primarily of younger and emerging NBA stars, with a few more experienced, veteran players sprinkled in to the mix. But clearly, this team was perceived as not the USA’s ‘best’ team, just the best one that the country could manage. While chock-full of talented players (and admittedly one ‘A’ player, the remarkable Kevin Durant), this group was certainly not assured a gold medal, the days of the US just trotting out any 5 NBA players and expecting to win on the International stage are long passed. Plus, this tournament was to be played in Turkey, giving the hard-working, chain-smoking, flopping Turks a significant home court advantage.
This team then, had several built-in excuses should they have failed to win. They were after all, the ‘B’ team. They were mostly young, and had little experience in major international competition. No one was really paying attention back in the US. The finals of the World Championship took place the first Sunday of the new NFL season. But with the inspiring play of Durant, the Lakers Lamar Odom, and contributions from many of the younger players, the US team won the tournament in impressive fashion. Based on this performance, Durant certainly, and some of the others potentially will crack the ‘A’ team roster for the 2012 Olympics.
What does this all mean to the rest of us, and the real world of work?
Maybe nothing.
But it could be a reminder that developing depth of talent sometimes requires sending in the ‘B’ team.
Even in important, high pressure, and high stakes environments.
Truth is, people know even if they don’t want to admit it, when they are on the ‘B’ team. In basketball the only way to make it to the ‘A’ team is to play your way in, you can’t do it just in practice, or in low stakes contests. Want to see if any of your ‘B’ players have what it takes? Then you just might have to put them in the game.
Truth is, people know even if they don’t want to admit it, when they are on the ‘B’ team. In basketball the only way to make it to the ‘A’ team is to play your way in, you can’t do it just in practice, or in low stakes contests. Want to see if any of your ‘B’ players have what it takes? Then you just might have to put them in the game.
Reader Comments (6)
Let's also not gloss over the problems of the "A" teams. With the exception of the original Dream Team, one issue that always comes up is how a team full of guys, each used to being the "go to" guy, plays as a unit and not a group of individuals. There is a period of adjustment, not wanting to step on toes or appear to think yourself above your teammates (even if secretly you know you are). Then there is the issue of how to deal with the individual who does take charge. Are they the right leader, filling a void everyone can see? Or are they selfish, not willing to share the spotlight with others who are just as talented?
The challenge of many executive teams is that each one reached their position by being the driver, but there is only one steering wheel. How they share the chore of steering says a lot about the future if the company.
Back to your point of developing talent, though, getting the "B" team to work together and enjoy real success not only makes for a stronger team, but hopefully will educate them on teamwork and prepare them to be better at influencing others without authority (or with it) in the future.
Super points all around Dwane - thanks very much for sharing. A team full of A players has all and more of the issues of the B team. Thanks again.
I'll agree with Dwane in saying that a team full of B players has less of a tendency of a power struggle. However, with the last Olympics, we had mainly A caliber players and there seemed to be an equal level of teamwork and it saw success. There are more leadership risks but even a team with nothing but A players can learn to get along
Also, kudos on using Squarespace. It's what we use on our blog too. Love it
It seems that organizations are now less willing to provide the 'game playing' opportunities needed for B-players to become A-players. Unfortunately, too few companies recognize the importance of making proper investments in their people (human capital) and their development.
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